Continuum
I do not own The Hunger Games. All rights reserved.
Ideas come to me at strange times.
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District 12 was in an uproar.
Not about food. Not about the injustices of the Capital. Not against Snow or The Games or that ridiculously pink-haired travesty, Effie Trinket.
No, they were in a romantic uproar.
All because of those stupid star-crossed lovers from District 12, Peeta Mellark and Katniss Everdeen.
All around the District, people were walking around, fantasizing and sighing and talking about "Katniss's kisses" and "Peeta's bravery" and how "they never even saw it, but you know, that baker always had a thing for Mrs. Everdeen".
It made him sick.
Of course, he was the only one, considering that everyone else was entranced with the Games this year, and especially with the Peeta-Katniss complex.
It seemed like wherever he went, he couldn't get away from the talking and the gossip.
He couldn't take it anymore.
"Did you watch, Gale?" Primrose Everdeen's eyes shone as Gale handed her rabbits, squirrels, and even parts from a grouse. "I think that Katniss'll win! And Peeta too!"
Yes, Prim, that's lovely.
"Well I do think, you know, them kids'll win this shindig and bring the moneys back here!" Greasy Sae accepted a few pounds of wild dog and guffawed, exposing her few ill-brushed teeth and her pinkish gums.
Sure, Sae, just trade the damned meat and have a good fucking day.
Even his mother had joined the dark side.
"Oh Gale," she cried hysterically, holding on to his younger siblings as they crowded around, waiting for him to arrive with food, "I heard today about how Katniss and Peeta have the best odds of surviving! Your childhood friend!"
She dissolved into a round of fresh tears.
Yes Mom, of course.
He had to run away, like he had suggested to Katniss that fateful day. These people were driving him insane. He had to go.
But he couldn't leave his family behind. He couldn't go back on his promise to Catnip, that he would make sure that Prim and her mother always would have enough to eat.
He was caught between a rock and a hard place.
Of course, his mind was usually caught on other things. What Catnip was doing. How she was surviving. How the hunt was. If she had been caught kissing that bakery-trained bozo. If she missed him. How he missed her.
His stomach turned. He often missed steps and crunched on leaves and branches, scaring off potential prey. Sometimes, Gale couldn't even bring himself near the forest, for fear that the animals surrounding him would suddenly take on her features, reminding him even more of her.
After days of hearing the shrieks of happiness from District 12 and frightening off rabbits, he returned to the forest. However, he tripped and fell, producing a loud and startled groan of pain. He clutched his ankle, and then rotated it. As the minutes went on, it hurt less and less, yet he couldn't believe he had just screwed up his hunt for today. It was the last straw. He would do it. He was going to run away. He tenderly lifted himself up and raised his eyes towards the ceiling of trees. He stood, facing the forest and away from his district, his head in his hands, backed against the fence, which, predictably, was turned off.
"Are you okay?"
A shy voice rang through the forest, and for a moment, he thought it was Prim. But Prim would never come near the forest; much less approach him in a moment such as this.
He immediately composed himself and turned around, ready to bark at whoever came to bother him. His hackles immediately rose when he saw the blonde girl with the heartbreakingly deep blue eyes, dressed in as close to District 1 fashions as her father could probably afford.
"Go away," he growled.
"Are you alright? You seem hurt." She attempted to peer at him through the other side of the fence.
"I said I was fine," he grumbled.
"Actually, you didn't. You said to go away."
"Madge Undersee," he said quietly, "Wouldn't your father just about rather die than see his precious angel near these here dangerous parts, especially with common-folk like me? In the Seam?" Gale clucked his tongue sarcastically and began harvesting roots.
"You're the one looking for death, Gale Hawthorne, with all the dangers on the other side of this fence," her slender fingers gripped the fence. "And anyways, why am I not being electrocuted?"
"Did you come to ask questions or to harass me? Because you're doing an exceptional job at both," he commented crossly. "This son of a bitch fence has not been on since I was 12."
"Really? Why?" Her doe eyes widened as she struggled to get as close to him as the fence allowed.
"Because this son of a bitch place doesn't have any electricity for the citizens, much less for this stupid fence."
"You like saying that curse, don't you?"
"When you have such a limited vocabulary as we here poor folks, sometimes you have to use words like that," he replied hotly.
Madge remained silent for a moment.
"Gale, maybe you should-"
"Well you know my name, do you?" He asked. "I'm honored."
"Of course I know your name. We're mutual friends of Katniss, which makes us friends in a weird sort of way."
He stopped to heave his sack over his shoulder with a grunt.
"I don't have any friends, Miss Undersee. I'm a loner. Now, can you please back off before I really lose my temper?"
The only audible noise was that of some rabbits on the side.
"The forest is dangerous. Isn't it?" She asked timidly.
Gale scoffed.
"Of course it's not. That's some kind of hogwash that the Peacekeepers feed us in order to keep us from feeding our families."
"Isn't it illegal to cross the fence?" She asked quietly.
"Why yes, yes it is," Gale mocked surprise. "Why don't you call your father or a Peacekeeper and you can keep me chained by my pinky fingers from the ceiling for my heinous crimes?"
Madge stepped away, hurt.
"I would never tell on you."
"Of course you wouldn't," he replied irritably. "Now go be a good little rich girl and throw a society luncheon or something. Hurry along now, before you forget your gloves." He turned back to the forest, the leaves crunching under his boots as he walked.
There was another moment of crisp silence, and suddenly, Madge Undersee exploded in a ball of cold fury.
"Listen to me, Gale Hawthorne, and you listen clearly. I may be lucky enough to have a few more luxuries, but the point is, I live in District 12 just as much as you do, and I'm just as alone as you are. Do you know what today is? My birthday. Do you know who cares? No one except my father, but he can't help me because he has to work to keep this stupid government afloat. Why aren't I with my friends?" –at this point, her voice gained a hysterical edge- "Because I don't have any friends! I'm just a much of a loner as you are. I see you're a loner! I know your only friend was Katniss! She was my only friend too! I get to roam the streets by myself, because no one will talk to me! Everyone thinks that because I'm the Mayor's daughter, I'm arrogant, bossy, and support Snow. But it's not true!" At this, she collapsed into a pile of angry tears.
Gale was shocked at the sudden spewing of information. Maybe she was on her period. Maybe she was trying to garner his sympathy. Or maybe, just maybe, she was being real and finally needed to dissolve with someone. He pushed the last thought out of his mind, locking Nice Gale in a closet and threatening to pummel him if he ever made a reappearance in his mind ever again. Madge looked pathetic, crumpled on the ground, with her Gale tried to ignore her and keep walking, but something about her vulnerability reminded her of his own siblings, his mother, and even Prim. So despite his better rationality, he approached the fence, slid under it expertly, and sat beside her.
"You can go," she sobbed, "Don't feel pity for the poor little rich girl."
"Oh trust me, I'm not. But I will not, however, leave you besides this fence near this forest," he said shortly. "So get up and let's start walking and," he trailed off.
After a few minutes of sniffling, Madge cleared her throat.
"Gale," she said shakily. "I'm not going to tell on you."
It took all of his effort to not lash out with an Of course not! I'd make you my prey if you planned to and instead say "Thank you very much."
"If-" She began
Shit, the conditional tense.
"You take me into the forest tomorrow."
Gale let out a string of curses in the key of F under his breath and silently weighed his options. He could either refuse and then potentially battle off accusations, keeping his family starving, or he could let her accompany him tomorrow and she could watch him gut and clean a rabbit. That would certainly scare her off away from the forest.
"Fine," he agreed reluctantly, hoisting himself up. "Tomorrow. Be here at about 6 A.M." It was time for early-morning hunting.
Madge wiped her face one more time and stood up to face him. "Okay."
Gale silently led her off away from the forest, cursing himself for attracting Murphy's Law at its finest. Obviously, the fates had it out for him. When they reached Main Street and he turned towards his shack, she whispered a good-bye. Before he even knew what he was saying, he turned around and said:
"And happy birthday, by the way."
Madge's face lit up.
Gale kicked himself all the way home.
Should I continue? Or should I leave this as a one-shot? (: